Bias cutting machine



Jan. 24, 11933. H. s. ALEXANDER ET AL BIAS CUTTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed Oct- 10. 1928 R m m m Jan- 24, 1933. H. s. ALEXANDER ET AL BIAS CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 A TI'OHEYI Patented jari. 24, 1933 UNITED sm-ra s 1 HARRY s. ALEXANDER ANDV FRED 1B, PFEIFFER, onaxnonfannaoiin w. wHI'rE, on if PATENT:

"'VBABBER'ION, OHlO, ASSIGNORS -TO SEIBERLING RUBBER COMPANY,"-A CORPOB-Afl TION DELAWARE BIAsj CUTTING MACHINE i Applicatipn filed october' 10, 1928. s nsin 31 1,433.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for, cutting sheet materials, and

refers particularly to machines for cutting fabric materials on the bias;

In the manufacture of pneumatic tire casings, there is employed sheet rubber with reinforcing or load-bearing cords embedded therein, this material being arrangedin different layers or plies andbuilt to tire shape in green or 'unvulcanlzed condition upon a collapsible core or drum. Generally, the cords are arranged in two or more plies or layers and extend diagonally from :bead to bead in opposite directions so as to cross each other in the adjacent plies, the number of plies depending upon the sizeof the casing,

or upon the gauge of the c'ords,or both, Insome cases, the cords in each ply or layer are cross-woven or m ade up in the form of a sheet of fabric or canvas for the production of.fabric tires, and in other cases the cords in each ply or layer are disposed merely side 7 by side in parallel relation with no connection between them except the rubber with [which they are impregnated or encased, forthe production of Fcord tires. Inusing the word fabric in the specificationand claims, it intended to comprehend eitherikind of sheet material above referred to or any other kind of sheet materialembodying cordsinone way or another to reinforce the rubber body por tion. s p j The rubberized fabric above described is prepared in sheet form and wound, with a liner, in a stock roll and is later run ,thru a bias cutting machine which, .as its name implies, cuts the sheet diagonally into strips with the cords disposed at the desired angle to the edges defined by the successive cut-s.

Prior to this invention, the bias cutting machines more generally in use have included jaws which automatically pick up the leading end of the fabric sheet and pull it a definite distance past an angularly disposed knife, by which the bias strip is cut asthe jaws reach I the limit of their motion. This feeding and cutting action is carried on intermittently at a speed of about thirty strips .peiflminute, and the cuts strips. are individually placed between cotton cloth leaves of a book in which they are stored until used by the tire builder,"

or else-they are spliced together end to" end and woundup with a liner, These machines are, very expensive andmust be operated-aldo not out the bias strips with, the desired 7 accuracy, resulting in considerable of u'ction ofw material, as wellas imperfect constr the tire in Which the materialis used. I V

The foregoingand other objectionable features of the prior art are overcome by the; present invention, which, has among, its -ob-I jects, the provision ofabias cuttin g machine I of extremely simple construction, which will a and capablelof being easily adjusted -to vary be economical, accurateyand efficient in use,

the angle of the bias cut.

More Specifically, the invention ,contenn plates a bias cutting machine having-a horizontally disposed endless belt conveyor which is' nanually operated to advance the fabricv sheet material step-by-step, and withouttension, from a stock supply roll to a cutting' position Whereit is cut diagonally bya power-driven cutter. This cutter is inthe nature of an endless band, having aserrated cutting edge, and runs over two spaced pulleys disposed above the conveyor belt 'adjacent the opposite side edges thereof, The

pulleys rotate ,in'a plane at an angle to that in whichjthe'fabricis fedto the cutting position so that only one'str'etch ofthe endless band cutter comes in contact with thefabric, and pivotal supporting means for the said pulleys and their supporting I'n'ea'ns are adjustable as a unit" to vary the angle ofthef bias-cut, and mounted for adjustment with these parts is a rigid bar or plate Whichfis adapted to underlie the fabric andlform a support for the same at the cutting linei Suitable ipresser members are also provided'to engage the upper surface ofthe fabricadjacent to pulleys provides for selective movement "of 9 the cutter to activeor inactivepositions. The

I fabric against lateral displacement during the cutting operation. The endlessband cutter is or maybe continuously driven, preferably by anelectric motor, while the endless belt conveyor is preferably-operable inter- I mittently and'by hand to advance the fabric after each cutting operation.

' by way ofiillustration, and wherein,

'35.. commodation of bolts 15 whereby "the said 7 frame 13 may be adjustably secured to bedbias cutting machine embodying theinvention--; I 'fl igi 2 is a fragmentary top plan'view there- Fig.3 on line33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of thecutter and fabric supporting bar on a larger s'ca'le. I I

Referrifg in detail to the drawings, the improved bias cutting machine comprises a fixed main frame 10, having spaced parallel side rails 11 and supporting standards or legs 12, and a supplementary frame 13 which extends transversely of themain frame 10 and is adjustable angularly with reference there'- to. I The supplementary frame 13 'isin the'nature of a substantially fiat plate which ex-' tends obliquely from' one side rail 11 to the other, and it is provided adjacent its opposite ends with longitudinal slots 14 for the acplates 16' on the respective side rails .11. These bed-plates '16. areadjustably secured fto the side rails ll by bolts 17 whichextend thru slts]18,:and in view of the angular relationship existing between the slots 14and stretches oftheconveyor -belt. I j

The fabric; sheet material to be cut lies the slots 18', it is evident that the supplementary frame 13 can be'shifted to different angu lar positions with respectvto the mainframe 10.

An" endless belt conveyor 19 is supported by" the main frame-" to travel in a direction parallelwiith the side'rails 11, the belt running over ulleys 20and21 on shafts 22 and 23 respectively, and'these shafts are journ aled at 24 and 25 adjacent the ends of the mainframe-side rails. The conveyor 19' is manually operated'by a 'crank'26 which turns a pulley27 connected by a belt 28 to the conveyor pulley 21.

By intermittently turning the crank 26, the rubberized fabric sheet A is fed forwardly step-by-step from a stock supply rollB to a cutting position adjacent, the supplementary frame-13,' the, latter being a d owe disposed between the upper upon the belt conveyor 19 and is fed without tension, and'as it reaches the cutting position,

Fig.1 is a perspective view of an improved is a vertical transverse sectional view cutter it is caused to pass over a rigid separator bar 29 whereby it is supported during the cutting operation. This separator bar extends par- "as-to allowthe fabric to slideover it freely as it is fed by the conveyor. 7

Rising from the 'opposlte end portions of the supplementaryframe plate .13 aretwo bearing members and 36 whifch support an I rock shaft37 extending overf'the'. conveyor belt 19 in an oblique" direction, andv parallel to the separator bar 29. Rocker arms 38 and 39 are securedto the "shaft'37,"as by set screws 40, and extend forwardly adjacent the side edges of the conveyor belt. The rocker arm 38 carries. an electric motor 41, which drives a pulley 42, and terminates at its forwardend'in a handle 43 by means of which the shaft 37 may be rocked. The rearward endofthe. arm 38 carries a counterweight 44'Wl110l1 slightly 'overbalancesthe weight of the motor, whereby tono'rmally hold the forward ends of the arms38, and 39 1p and hereinafter explained. The forward end of the arm 39' forms a journal for ashaft 45' carrying an idler pulley 46 of'substantially away from the conveyor, for a purpose to be the same size as the pulley 42, and runningover these two pulleys is an. endless band" 47 having itslower cutting edgepro videdjwith cuts or serrations'48. 1 i v When the parts are in cutting position,

" as shown inFigs. 1 and 3,the axes 'of the pulleys 42 and'f46' are inclined slightly, so.

that only the forward stretch 49 of the end-.

less band cutter comes in contact. with the fabricsheet A, and the cutting edge of this 1 operative portion "of the cutter is then .in line with the groove 31 of the separator bar.: Thus it will be seen thatas the motor 41 is operated,the forward stretch 49 of the cutting band will. move continuously in] a straight line across the fabric, and byrdepressing the handle 43,1the fabric mayiibe quickly out, In order to hold the fabric against lateral displacement during the cutting operation, suitable presser members are provided,here shown asin thenature of roll:

ers 50 adjustably mountedon arms 5 1 secured to p the shaft "37. These'rollers are adapted to engage the fabric adjacent tothei separator bar '29 at the rear of the cutting" line, andthey are raised'and lowered with the cutter so] as not to interfere with the i feeding of the fabric." :r'

In using the. improved ma chine, the sup r plementary frame 13 is first adjusted :to the V proper angle desired, aftergwhi'ch} the sheet material A is'fed forwardly on the conveyor by manual rotation of thezcrank 26.,it-he endless band cutter being then in its raised-position under the influence of thecounterweight ,7

4e. As soon as the-material has been ad- .vanceda sufiicijent amount beyond the cutting line the operator stops turning the crank 26 and depresses the handleABL This causes the front stretch 49 of the cutting band to engage the fabric sheet over the separator bar 29, and operation of the motor ll results in severing a bias-cut strip'from the sheet A.

hen the out has been completed, the operator releases the handle 43, raisingthe cuttin g blade 'to its inactive position,'andleaving' the material free to be fed forwardly again,

by rotation of the crank 26, to the next cut: ting position as determined by the width of the next strip to be "cut. Theseoperations can be repeated as oftenand as rapidly as desired, and becauseof the fact that i the cutter operates acrossthe full width otthe fabric, the cutting can be effected ver ra idl i 'l o enable the operator to measure the amountof material fedby the movement of the conveyor, and to gauge accurately the width of the strips to be out, there islocated at the delivery side of the conveyor a gauge bar or ruler 53 disposed perpendicular to the line of the out, and having one end adjustably secured'to the main frame side rail 11 as at 54, for endwise and swinginginove ment, and its other end preferablyterminating at the line of cut, altho not necessarily so. The gauge bar overlies the convveyor 19 as best shown in Fig; 1, so that the cut strips arecarried below it, and inter mediate its ends the bar hasanadjustable' sight member or pointer 56,;by which the amount-of intermittent feedmovement of the conveyor can be governed. Thusafte'r'a cut has been made as'previously described, the

conveyor is operated until the line of the last out registers with the sight member or pointer 56, at which time the conveyor is stopped and the next cut made. ment, the product of the machine is uniform 'in Width and as a result, waste of material is reduced to a minimum.

The improved b1as cutt ng machine 'is of -extremely simple construction, capable of tires and eliminating the extra expense inci dent to handling and storing'the strips in books orliner rolls. The machine can. also" be used to operate on different widths or -1 .;]A,bias cutting-machine comp With this arrange;

thicknesses :of fabric without making, bothers some, adjustmentsgand call be easilyflandf i quickly adjusted to vary: the angle, of the I bias out,

Th invention the invention. i

is of course susceptible of numerous modifications inthe details of con-' struction and arrangementof: parts, and the right is herein reservedto make such changes as fall within the scopeof' vthe appended claimslwithout departing from the spirit of- Hayingithus described our invention," whati wjeclaim is as follows;

combination, an endless belt conveyor for advancing fabric from a source of supply to a cutting position, a transversely extendingframe disposed obliquely with reference to the path of movement, of :the conveyor, a

power-driven endless band cutter extending obliquelyover the conveyor and rockably supported by the frame, a plate or bar assomeans moving the endless band cutter into .ciat d with said" ;frame and adapted to sup'-.. 1 port the fabric at the cutting line, presser members. adapted toienga'ge the fabric to: maintain jthe same against displacement,

and out of cutting, position independently ofthe actlon of said conveyor,: and means fori independently and intermittently, operating the conveyor;

-2.:Af bias cutting machine comprising a fixed ma'in frame, afsubstantially horizontal" endless belt conveyor supported by said main frame for "feeding fabric step-by-stepdn'a straight runwithouttension, aTpower-driven cutter supported upon said-frame and being in the nature of an endless band having a serrated'edg'e e rtending; obliquely over the' conveyor, a fabric supporting bar associated withthe frame and disposed below the operative portion of the endless bandcutter sai'dj bar having alongitudinal groove defining the cutting'line, means for moving. the cutter toward and from'the rsupporting'bar indew I pendently of :theactionof "the conveyor, presser membersadaptedto engagethe fabric J to hold'the same against lateral displacement duringthe' cutting operatiomiand means for independently advancingthe conveyor any desired amount whenllthe cutter is in its'inactive position.

b'as cutting machine including in comblnation, a manually; operable conveyor 3 for advancing fabric from a'source of sup ply to cutt ngpos'ition at lthe will of the operator and in any desired (quantity, 5a ransverselyextending framegdisposed over the, conveyor and-adjustable to differentangles, with reference to the direction-of movement of'the, conveyor, a, longitudinally movable cutting blade supported ,upon' said-f frame andoperable to; seven-the, fabric into jsuccessive; bias-cut strips, said cutter beinggj iiiathe, nature of: an endless; band having a cutting edge and running over pulleys which rotate "in a plane inclined with reference to that of the fabric, meansfor movingthe cutting blade into cutting position. independentlyof'theaction-of the' conveyor and means for-moving the cutting blade out of cutting position whenthe cutting blade is released from such cutting position.

' j acent' the ends thereof,- said rocker arms hav 9 ing pulleys'journaled in their free ends, said pulleys rotatingi-ina plane inclined-to that of the conveyonapower driven endless'band cutter c running ov'er said ipulleys, means flassociated with one of the rocker arms for roclp ing the shafts,pulleys, and cutter whereby to move one stretch of the cutter into andout V engage the fabric adjacent one-sideo'f the supporting bar whereby to hold the fabric" against lateral displacement duringthe jcut ting operation. j "#In testimony whereof, this "specification has-been duly signed by HARRY"S.-ALEXANDER; I .FR-ED'B I- PFEI'FFERI,"

HN WHITE,

. Ofengagement with the fabricon the con' veyor,a longitudinally grooved barf disposed below said operative stretch of the cutter to I 3 1 support the {fabrics in the cutting operation, V presser members spaced from each other and 'secured tothe rockwshaft and adapted to engage the fabric adjacent one side'ofthe supporting bar wherebyto "hold the fabric 135 against lateral displacement during the out ting operation, and means for manually: adc I vancing theeconveyor any desiredl'amount" '.-'when the cutter-is; in its inactive" position,

whereby 'to cut successive bias strip's' ofany desired width with accuracy.

5. Ab1as cutting machine comprising, in

I combination, a fixed main fran'1e,'=a:substan tia'lly horizontal endless belt conveyor sup- I ported, bysaidmain -frame forfeeding fabric 7 step by step ina straightrunwithout tension,

bearing bracketsmounted on the fixed frame I at oppositesidesofthe conveyor, a rock shaft journalledrin said bearing-brackets and .eX v tending obliquelyover the conveyor, rocker arms secured to'saidshaft'and adjacent the endsflthereof, said rocker arms having; pulleys I journalled in their free, ends,- said: pulleys rotating in a plane inclined'to that of the conveyor, a power drivenendless band cutter running over said pulleys, means associated with one of the rocker arms -for rock ing the shaft, pulleys, andcutter whereby to move one'stretchof" the cutter into'and out of engagement with. the fabric on the conveyor indepiendently of the action of the con-' V veyor, a longitudinallygrooved bardi'sposed V ,below'said operativestretchofthecuttrto support the fabric in the cutting operatiomy l qand presserimembers spaced fromeachother'i' 1 r and secured to the rock shaft andadaptedtd 

